Abstract

Coral reef fish in the Florida Keys have been heavily exploited since at least the 19th century. Historical baselines are needed to understand the full magnitude of decline in fish populations and the degree to which loss of abundant fish populations has contributed to ecological degradation in the Keys. We collected historic and ecological data on the relative abundance of 23 coral reef fish from three points in time: the 1880s, early 20th century, and 2005. Comparison of these data indicates major reductions in abundant fish populations, particularly for large carnivorous fish. Use of historic and ecological data provides a description of the ecosystem in a less-fished state, which (1) gives insight into more realistic targets for rebuilding modern coral reef fish stocks and (2) allows for understanding ecosystem structure in a more natural condition.

PDF Preview